Will library assistants be replaced by AI?
Updated
Library assistants score 49 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 48%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 21% outright, and 31% stays with people.
- 21% AI can do it
- 48% AI helps
- 31% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Higher than 72% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 32 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 7 of them today, speeds up 15 and leaves 10 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Enter and update patrons' records on computers. Routine patron record entry and updates in software. | 82% AI can do it |
| Prepare library statistics reports. Compiling figures and drafting summaries is highly automatable. | 72% AI can do it |
| Prepare, store, and retrieve classification and catalog information, lecture notes, or other information related to stored documents, using computers. Catalog metadata and retrieval are highly automatable tasks. | 70% AI can do it |
| Acquire books, pamphlets, periodicals, audio-visual materials, and other library supplies by checking prices, figuring costs, and preparing appropriate order forms and facilitating the ordering process by providing such information to others. Price comparison and order forms are highly automatable tasks. | 70% AI can do it |
| Review records, such as microfilm and issue cards, to identify titles of overdue materials and delinquent borrowers. Record review and overdue lists are highly automatable. | 68% AI can do it |
| Classify and catalog items according to content and purpose. Subject classification is AI strong; final review stays human. | 66% AI helps |
| Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used. Records and filing are digital; little judgement needed. | 65% AI can do it |
| Select substitute titles when requested materials are unavailable, following criteria such as age, education, and interests. AI can suggest substitutes; patron preferences need judgement. | 62% AI helps |
| Perform accounting and bookkeeping activities, such as invoicing, maintaining financial records, budgeting, and handling cash. Invoicing and budgeting are automatable; cash handling is not. | 62% AI can do it |
| Send out notices and accept fine payments for lost or overdue books. Notices automate easily; cash fine handling needs staff. | 60% AI helps |
Show the other 22 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Design or maintain library web site and online catalogues. AI writes code and content; design and upkeep need review. | 60% AI helps |
| Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians. Chat tools answer routine questions; referrals need staff. | 55% AI helps |
| Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material. Typing and emails automate; mail and copying stay physical. | 55% AI helps |
| Register new patrons and issue borrower identification cards that permit patrons to borrow books and other materials. Form data is automatable; ID card issuance needs presence. | 50% AI helps |
| Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items. Database tracking of reserves, but physical handling remains. | 45% AI helps |
| Process new materials including books, audio-visual materials, and computer software. Cataloging metadata assisted by AI; physical processing remains manual. | 45% AI helps |
| Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans. Desk lending is in person; ILL requests can be automated. | 40% AI helps |
| Schedule, supervise, and train clerical workers, volunteers, student assistants, and other library employees. Scheduling automates; supervising and training people stays human. | 40% AI helps |
| Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems. Teaching patrons in person; AI can prepare guides. | 35% AI helps |
| Inspect returned books for condition and due-date status and compute any applicable fines. Condition checks are physical; fine calculation is automatable. | 35% AI helps |
| Provide assistance to librarians in the maintenance of collections of books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers, and audio-visual and other materials. Supports librarians; much collection work is physical. | 35% AI helps |
| Plan or participate in library events and programs, such as story time with children. AI helps plan events; running story time is in person. | 30% AI helps |
| Maintain library equipment, such as photocopiers, scanners, and computers, and instruct patrons in proper use of such equipment. Equipment repair is physical; instruction partly assisted. | 20% Needs a person |
| Assist in the preparation of book displays. Physical display setup with creative layout judgement. | 20% Needs a person |
| Operate small branch libraries, under the direction of off-site librarian supervisors. Running a branch requires on-site presence and supervision. | 18% Needs a person |
| Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures. Physical retrieval of items; AI helps only with lookup. | 15% Needs a person |
| Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment. Physical AV equipment operation and maintenance. | 12% Needs a person |
| Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas. Stated that shelving is physical work done by people. | 10% Needs a person |
| Take action to deal with disruptive or problem patrons. Live conflict handling needs human presence and judgement. | 10% Needs a person |
| Repair books using mending tape, paste, and brushes or prepare books to be sent to a bindery for repair. Book repair with tape and paste is physical work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment. Physical opening, closing and securing of premises. | 5% Needs a person |
| Deliver and retrieve items to and from departments by hand or using push carts. Physical delivery of items manually or cart. | 5% Needs a person |
How library assistants compare
All occupations (923)
Office and administrative support (51)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $36,910 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 85,520 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- -6.4% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Shelve and sort stock by call number and title
- Repair books with mending tape and paste
- Check patron record updates in Microsoft Access
- Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment in the library
- Review overdue lists and delinquent borrower records in Excel
- Handle disruptive patrons and live conflict on the floor
Safer roles nearby
3 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about library assistants and AI
Will AI replace library assistants?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly patron record entry and library statistics reports. Shelving, book repair, and handling problem patrons stay with people because they need hands and a person present.
Which library assistant tasks is AI taking over?
Patron record entry and library statistics reports lead, with exposure scores of 82 and 72. Catalog metadata retrieval scores 70, and overdue record review scores 68, because the rules and figures sit in software that AI can follow.
Which library assistant tasks stay human?
Shelving books scores 10 on exposure, since moving stock needs hands and walking the stacks. Handling disruptive patrons also scores 10, because live conflict needs a person in the room who uses judgement.
How can library assistants stay valuable?
Learn to check AI-drafted patron records and overdue lists in Microsoft Access and Excel before they go out. Keep the hands-on shelving, repair, and AV equipment work, which scores 5 to 12 on exposure. Build statistics summaries in Excel and PowerPoint for library managers.
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